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Keane: We\'ve Given Murphy a New Lease of Life - Ipswich Town News

Boss Roy Keane says Daryl Murphy's loan move to Portman Road has given the Sunderland striker a new lease of life. Murphy scored his fourth and fifth goals for the Blues during the 2-0 victory over Cardiff City.

Keane said: "We've given him a new lease of life and he could be in double figures already. I spoke to him in the summer about joining and he probably regrets that that didn't happen.

"He's come in and had a run of games and his biggest strength is definitely playing through the middle.

"He's getting chances in every game and I was pleased with his goals tonight. They were poacher's goals, particularly the second one.

"We haven't scored anywhere near enough like that this season and need more. We try to score so many wonder goals after 15 or 16 passes."

The Blues boss wasn’t getting too carried away by the victory: "I'm still grumpy. We know what the players are capable of and they haven't done it enough this season.

"We scored two, their keeper made two particularly good saves and I thought we played not bad.

"We kept it well, stretched them when we had to, created chances and the players looked like they enjoyed it. In terms of keeping the ball, our tackling and our shape, the tempo was decent."

Keane was impressed with Shane O’Connor’s home debut: "Shane O'Connor can be pleased with his performance. He gave the fans a lift with his energy and keeping a clean sheet is a positive for the back four.

"Cardiff are a good side but apart from Michael Chopra's chance in the first half, they had to make do with shots from distance.

"It was a good win for us and a good reaction from the defeat at Blackpool but we need to follow it up against Scunthorpe on Saturday."

Cardiff’s assistant boss Terry Burton admitted his side were poor: "Ipswich were by far the better team. They played better on the night and 2-0 flattered us.

"Everyone uses it as an excuse but we've got a lot of injuries, including players who would normally be in our starting 11.

"We never got going, though. We were second best in every area and there was so much wrong that Dave Jones could be talking to the players until midnight.

"We can still make the play-offs, but we'll certainly be a lot happier when we get some of our injured players back."

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